Question

Jayce volunteers for the local library. The librarian wants to find out whether the patrons prefer paperback books or e-books. Jayce cannot decide which method to use for polling the patrons.

Option 1: Poll every fifth patron who enters the library on Paperback Lovers Day.
Option 2: Poll every third patron who enters the library on Technology Appreciation Day.

Which statement about the methods of collecting data is true?
Jayce should not use either option. Option 1 is likely to be biased so that paperbacks are overrepresented, while Option 2 is likely to be biased so that e-books are overrepresented.
Jayce should use Option 2. Option 1 is biased so that paperbacks are overrepresented, but Option 2 will give balanced results that reflect the general population.
Jayce should use Option 1. Option 2 is biased so that e-books are overrepresented, but Option 1 will give balanced results that reflect the general population.
Jayce should use whichever one is most convenient for those taking the polls because both options will give balanced results that reflect the general population.

Answer 1

The correct statement is:

**Jayce should not use either option. Option 1 is likely to be biased so that paperbacks are overrepresented, while Option 2 is likely to be biased so that e-books are overrepresented.**

This is because both polling days focus on themes that may bias the responses: Paperback Lovers Day may attract more patrons who prefer paperback books, while Technology Appreciation Day may attract those who favor e-books. As a result, both sampling methods could lead to skewed results that do not accurately reflect the preferences of the general patron population.